December Global Holidays
Out of all the 12 months in the calendar, December happens to be the most festive one. There’s a long list of all December global holidays.
December is a month that hosts all manner of festivals and events worldwide. From global holidays to national holidays and festive holidays to religious holidays, the list goes on. So if you thought Christmas and New Year’s Eve are the only two important days in December, you are wrong. So many other holidays and festivities are celebrated in December. Different countries follow different December global festivities.
If you are curious to know all December global holidays, then you have come to the right place. In this post, we are going to discuss all holidays 2022 in the month of December. So without any delay let’s read through the post below.
All December Global Holidays 2022
In this section, you will find the most popular December global holidays.
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World AIDS Day (1 December 2022)
Category: Health
Celebration Date: 1st December
Celebration Place: Worldwide
World AIDS Day is one of the most important December global holidays that are celebrated to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS. It was first celebrated in August 1987, by Thomas Netter and James W. Bunn. At that time, they were working as public information officers in the Global AIDS Program by the World Health Organization. The next year, the first World AIDS Day was marked on December 1 and since then it has been celebrated on the same day every year.
This day is devoted to highlighting the issues related to HIV/AIDS. It celebrates the people who are affected by the infection. It is celebrated all around the world. Visiting poor kids, and supporting safe-sex campaigns, are some of the ways it is celebrated.
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UAE National Holiday (2 December 2022)
Category: National
Celebration Date: 2nd December
Celebration Place: UAE
UAE National Day is one of the major December holidays in UAE. This day commemorates UAE’s stability and success. This day is celebrated with great zeal throughout the UAE.
The firework display, glittery ceremonies, and huge fancy dinners are a part of this day’s celebration. You will also get to see elaborate parades in different parts of the country. People hoist their national flag everywhere and organize vibrant carnivals with aerobatic displays, stunning performances, and patriotic speeches.
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National Cookie Day (4 December 2022)
Category: General
Celebration Date: 4th December
Celebration Place: Worldwide
National Cookie Day is a kind of December festival that is observed by bakers all around the world. On this day, bakers preheat their ovens and prepare delicious cookies, so they can distribute them during the holiday season.
The word “cookie” is derived from the Dutch word “koekie” which means “small cake.” Just so you know cookies were a part of royal cuisine during the 14th century. Cookies spread from Europe to America in the 17th century. It was the Americans who modified cookies into more innovative treats like gingerbread cookies and macaroons. National Cookie Day is celebrated by distributing cookies to family and friends.
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Krampusnacht (5 December 2022)
Category: Religious
Celebration Date: 5th December
Celebration Place: Austria
Krampusnacht is one of the most important December holidays for the people of Austria. Krampus is a carnal devil that slinks through Focal Europe around the year’s end. This day is observed to celebrate this abhorrent animal.
Austrians have devoted a whole day to praising this devilish animal, with large processions that turn this day into an all-out celebration. On this day, you will see hordes of young people walking down the streets wearing startling outfits.
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St. Nicholas Day (5 December 2022)
Category: Religious
Celebration Date: 5th December
Celebration Place: Europe
St. Nicholas Day is one of the religious holidays in December 2022. St. Nicholas gave away all his wealth and belongings to the needy people around him. He dedicated his entire life to serving people who are sick and suffering.
St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on the eve of 5th December. It is an important occasion in many countries across Europe, especially in Greece and Russia. People celebrate this day by sharing chocolate letters, candies, riddles, and small gifts. Kids put out their shoes with carrots in the hope that St. Nicholas will exchange them for treats and small gifts.
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Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8 December 2022)
Category: Religious
Celebration Date: December 8
Celebration Place: America, Brazil, Italy, Philippines, Spain, Argentina, Korea, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Uruguay
This is a very important day for Catholics and they celebrate it every year on the 8th of December. There is a popular belief that this day alludes to the conception of Jesus by the Virgin Mary. However, it isn’t true. Instead, it is the conception of Mary herself.
Although Mary was naturally brought into the world, her conception is believed to be ‘immaculate’ by Catholics. This is because her birth was interceded by God and thus, alleviating Mary of sin. This day is followed as a religious holiday in December by Catholics all around the world.
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Bodhi Day (8 December 2022)
Category: Religious
Celebration Date: December 8
Celebration Place: Japan
Japanese people celebrate the birth, edification, and demise of Lord Buddha on a single day. This festival is called Vesak and follows the lunar calendar to plan for recognition. Mahayana Buddhists in Korea, China, and Vietnam divide Vesak into three separate heavenly days. One of the three days is marked as Bodhi Day, which is celebrated on the eighth day of every twelfth month of the lunar calendar.
However, in Japan, they follow the Gregorian calendar and therefore, Bodhi Day in Japan is celebrated every year on the 8th of December. Besides Bodhi Day, Japan also has other holidays in December.
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Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day (12 December 2022)
Category: Religious
Celebration Date: 12th December
Celebration Place: Mexico, America
This is one of the popular religious holidays in December. It is mostly celebrated by Mexicans, Latinos, and Americans. On this day, the Virgin of Guadalupe is honored by colorful processions. For those who don’t know the figure of the Virgin of Guadalupe stands for patriotism and devotion.
According to legend, the apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe first appeared in 1531 to a peasant named Juan Diego. She appeared to Diego once more after he informed the bishop. She instructed him to collect flowers. When he visited the bishop, the flowers fell off his cloak and formed an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
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Santa Lucia (13 December 2022)
Category: Religious
Celebration Date: 13th December
Celebration Place: Scandinavia & Italy
Santa Lucia festival is one of the important days on the list of holidays in December. For those who don’t have any idea, Santa Lucia was an Italian Saint that passed on as a saint. She is viewed as a figure of light by Italian and Scandinavian people.
Every year Santa Lucia is recalled on the 13th of December as a symbol of trust and light. This significant day is celebrated by hosting grand parades and air shows. You will also find artists wearing white hoods and carrying flashing candles.
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International Monkey Day (14 December 2022)
Category: General
Celebration Date: 14th December
Celebration Place: Worldwide
International Monkey Day, which is also known as World Monkey Day is one of the important December celebrations. This holiday in December was created by Eric Millikin and Casey Sorrow in 2000. Monkeys are very intelligent animals. They are both cute and mischievous. There are hundreds of species of monkeys around the world and all of them have their unique ways to capture human attention.
This day is celebrated in many countries including Germany, the United States, Thailand, Canada, Pakistan, India, Scotland, Colombia, Turkey, and Estonia. This day is specially celebrated in zoos to raise funds for the protection and well-being of monkeys. Celebrating International Monkey Day helps spread awareness about different species of primates and monkeys around the world.
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Las Posadas (16 December to 24 December)
Category: Religious
Celebration Date: 16th December to 24th December
Celebration Place: Guatemala & Mexico
Las Posadas is a nine-day long winter festival that takes place every year in December. It recognizes the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy. On this occasion, kids are dressed as shepherds and heavenly messengers. Besides those pictures, figures, and candles are also common pieces of the celebration.
This festival is widely celebrated in the cities and towns across Mexico. They take out large processions where children dress up as angels, and adults follow the procession and visit selected homes to ask for lodging for Mary and Joseph.
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Hanukkah (18 December to 26 December)
Category: Religious
Celebration Date: 18th December to 26th December
Celebration Place: Israel
Hanukkah, which is also known as Chanukah, is an 8-day Jewish religious festival. It is also called the festival of lights, which usually starts on the 25th day of the Kislev month in the Hebrew calendar. This year, it is celebrated between November 28 and December 6.
This festival is celebrated to mark the re-loyalty of the Second Temple of Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt. During this festival, people light candles every night through the eight days. Other famous customs followed during this festival include eating oil-dried foods such as jam-filled doughnuts, potato hotcakes, and others. Hanukkah is one of the important religious holidays in December 2022.
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Yule (21 December to 1 January 2023)
Category: Pagan
Celebration Date: 21st December to 1st January
Celebration Place: Germany
Yule, which is also known as Yuletide, is celebrated by all Germanic people throughout the world. It is one of the important December global festivities that go back to the Norse god Odin. Yule falls inside the Winter Solstice, making it one of the most famous winter holidays in the world.
Ancient people marked this festival by lighting a huge bonfire and spending the night outdoors. The tradition of log burning is practiced even today. Many people also mark this occasion by making a Yule wreath, building a Yule altar, or giving back to Mother Nature. They also decorate Yule trees and arrange for candlelit dinners on this special day.
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Festivus (23 December 2022)
Category: Parody
Celebration Date: 23rd December
Celebration Place: All around the world, but especially in the United States
Festivus is one of the significant December holidays around the world that became popular in 1997. The purpose of this occasion is to stand against the opposition to Christmas industrialism. All thanks to the episode on the show called The Strike. The main purpose of this parody holiday is to stand against Christmas consumerism. It is marked by opposing the purchase of expensive Christmas trees.
Famous Festivus customs include waiting around an aluminum shaft, circulating complaints, and amazing accomplishments. This day is not just observed in the United States, but in many other countries in the world, where they have the majority of Christians living.
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Christmas (25 December 2022)
Category: Religious
Celebration Date: 25th December
Celebration Place: All around the world
Christmas is undoubtedly the most famous December religious holidays. It is celebrated all around the world. This auspicious day marks the birth of Christ, whom Christians believed to be the last prophet sent by God. They believe that Christ, son of God was sent to earth to save humankind from transgression.
Christmas is celebrated in almost every country in the world. There are different ways of celebrating this event. For instance, leaving presents for Santa Claus, visiting the church, etc. Some also go out on vacation with their family and friends.
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Boxing Day (26 December 2022)
Category: General
Celebration Date: 26th December
Celebration Place: Worldwide
It is still not clear how Boxing Day came into being, but it is celebrated every year on 26th December. According to some people, this was the day when churches gifted alms boxes to poor people after Christmas. But others beg to differ as they take this day to appreciate all service givers such as postmen, errand boys, and others for serving us throughout the year.
Boxing Day is one of the most iconic December holidays. Since the year it came into being, 26th December is celebrated as a public holiday in several countries around the world. This includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. They celebrate this day by organizing various sporting events.
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Kwanzaa (26 December to 1 January 2023)
Category: Cultural
Celebration Date: 26th December to 1st January
Celebration Place: Africa & United States
Kwanzaa is one of the cultural holidays that is followed in December. This day was established by Dr Maulana Karenga in African history. It was first celebrated in 1966 following the Watts revolts in Los Angeles, California. The significance of this day is to preserve certain African values.
Kwanzaa is often celebrated with traditional African moves and melodies. They also participate in poetry reading, storytelling and discussing important values of African culture. These events are usually organized over a large traditional meal at the end of each day followed by a mega feast called ‘Karamu’ on the last day of December.
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New Year’s Eve (31 December 2022)
Category: General
Celebration Date: 31st December
Celebration Place: Worldwide
New Year’s Eve is a very special occasion. It marks the end of a year and the arrival of a new one. No matter what country you go to, you will find people celebrating New Year’s Eve with great joy and pomp. It is celebrated on the last day of the month.
People celebrate this day in various ways. For instance, religious people go to their places of worship, while others hit the bars, clubs, and cafés on New Year’s Eve. People also throw parties and get-togethers at home. The celebrations reach their peak at midnight as people welcome the New Year with firecrackers, melodies, and happiness.
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Omisoka (31 December 2022)
Category: General
Celebration Date: 31st December
Celebration Place: Japan
Omisoka is one of the December holidays that is followed by Japanese people. It is like the Japanese New Year and is celebrated on 31st December. On this special day, people clear their homes of last year’s clutter. They purify their homes from top to bottom. Organizing giant feasts is very common on this day. People invite friends and family over and enjoy traditional Japanese food with them.
For Japanese people, it is a must to have a bowl of traditional noodles called “toshikoshi-soba.” According to Japanese tradition, eating long noodles gives you a long life. Besides having traditional food, people also visit shrines and temples for Hatsumode. Temples distribute a sweet drink called Amazake and ring their bells. In short, Omisoka is a Japanese way of welcoming the New Year.
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Watch Night (31 December 2022)
Category: Religious
Celebration Date: 31st December
Celebration Place: Christians around the world
Watch Night is also known as Freedom’s Eve. This is another mind-blowing December festival that you should know about. The idea of this festival is to end the month on a happy note and have a positive start to the New Year. This day is celebrated in different ways by different communities.
Many people go to their religious places to thank God for one more year. Some people celebrate the day by visiting cafes and bars with their friends and family. The display of fireworks is a common sight on this day. People get together, party, and spend good times.
List of Holidays in December 2022 in the United States
- 25th December: Christmas Day
- 26th December: Boxing Day
- 31st December: New Year’s Eve
List of Holidays in December 2022 in the United Kingdom
- 25th December: Christmas Day
- 26th December: Boxing Day
List of Holidays in December 2022 in Australia
- 24th December: Christmas Eve
- 25th December: Christmas Day
- 26th December: Boxing Day
- 31st December: New Year’s Eve
List of Holidays in December 2022 in Canada
- 24th December: Christmas Eve
- 25th December: Christmas Day
- 26th December: Boxing Day
- 31st December: New Year’s Eve
List of Holidays in December 2022 in Different Parts of the World
- 1st December: United Arab Emirates (National Day)
- 4th December: Ghana (Farmer’s Day)
- 6th December: Finland (Independence Day), Spain (Constitution Day)
- 7th December: Thailand (King Bhumibol’s Birthday)
- 10th December: Thailand (Constitution Day)
- 12th December: Mexico (The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe)
- 13th December: Malta (Republic Day)
- 16th December: Bangladesh (Victory Day), South Africa (Day of Reconciliation)
- 18th December: Qatar (National Day)
- 24th December: Libya (Independence Day)
- 25th December: Pakistan ( Birthday of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah)
- 26th December: Slovenia (Independence and Unity Day), Boxing Day (Various Countries)
- 29th December: Sri Lanka (Unduvap Full Moon Poya)
- 30th December: Philippines (Rizal Day)
- 31st December: New Year’s Eve (Various Countries)
Final Words about global holidays in December
December global holidays are perhaps the most popular ones. Different countries celebrate different festivities while enjoying their winter holidays. If someone asks you “what holidays are celebrated in December around the world,” you can name all these celebrations that you just read in this post. Hopefully, you found this article helpful.
FAQs about December global holidays
What global holidays are celebrated in December?
Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve are two of the main global holidays celebrated in December. Apart from that, many other December global holidays are celebrated by various countries. For example: Boxing Day.
What is Omisoka?
Omisoka is celebrated by Japanese people on 31st December. It is considered the second-most important day in Japanese tradition. It is the final day of the old year and the eve of New Year’s Day.
When is Boxing Day celebrated?
Boxing Day is celebrated on 26th December every year. It is observed as one of the December global holidays in many countries like the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, etc.
What is Hanukkah celebrated for?
Hanukkah is an eight-day festival in the Jewish culture. They celebrate Hanukkah to commemorate the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt. It is one of the religious holidays 2022 in Jerusalem.
When is World AIDS Day celebrated?
World Aids Day is celebrated on 1st December every year to spread awareness regarding HIV/AIDS.
What holidays are celebrated in December globally?
Several December holidays are celebrated globally. Two of the most prominent ones are Christmas and New Year.
What is the most celebrated holiday in the world?
Christmas happens to be the most celebrated holiday in the world. It is celebrated every year on 25th December.
What are the 3 holidays celebrated in December?
Three December holidays are Christmas, New Year, and Hanukkah.
Why Boxing Day is called Boxing Day?
The name comes from a time when rich people used to box up gifts and give them to poor people. Originally, Boxing Day was a day off for servants. On this day, they received a Christmas box from their masters.
What is Boxing Day called in the USA?
Boxing Day originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor. Today, it is also known as a shopping holiday in the USA.
Why is it called Christmas Eve?
The meaning of the word ‘eve’ is the day or period before an event. So Christmas Eve means ‘the day before Christmas.’
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